Yvonne B. Burke

Nearly 30 years ago, legislative aide Mike Woo shattered a barrier, becoming the first Asian American to win a seat on the Los Angeles City Council. The milestone was hailed as a sign that Asian Americans had finally come into their own on the local political scene. But after losing a bid for mayor in 1993, he left office and became a historical figure in a different way, serving as the last — and therefore only — Asian American to hold office at City Hall. That could change next year. Two Korean American candidates are running for council seats in the March 3 election, and they are offering strikingly different messages. One has been discussing the need to give Asian...

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Nearly 30 years ago, legislative aide Mike Woo shattered a barrier, becoming the first Asian American to win a seat on the Los Angeles City Council.
The milestone was hailed as a sign that Asian Americans had finally come into their own on the local...

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